Health bosses have come under fire after it emerged they are planning to close up to 11 residential homes.

A 12-week public consultation is to be held into the controversial proposals to close up to 11 residential homes across Northern Ireland.

Unions have said current residents of the facilities earmarked for closure now face an anxious wait to find out what is going to happen to their homes.

Kevin McCabe from NIPSA said: “These are some of the most vulnerable people in society and they are no doubt very worried about what is going to happen.”

The names of the homes facing closure were announced at a meeting of the Health & Social Care Board (HSCB) this morning.

They are:

Chestnut Grove in North Belfast

Pine Lodge in East Belfast

Northfield House in Donaghadee

Pinewood in Ballymena

The Roddens in Ballymoney

Slieve Roe in Kilkeel

Westlands in Cookstown

Roxborough House in Moy

William Street in Derry

Rectory Field in Derry

In addition, Skeagh House in Dromore, which has been closed since 2013 due to a landslide, will not reopen.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has expressed alarm at the latest development and called for Health Minister Simon Hamilton to act to stop the closure of any residential homes.

There was a massive public outcry during the last bid to close residential homes across Northern Ireland.

This prompted the then health minister, Edwin Poots, to step in and intervene.

Former health minister Edwin Poots

He asked the HSCB to look at the matter instead of the trusts, and a new list of homes for closure has now been produced.

Mr McCabe continued: “NIPSA, like all other trade unions and staff side organisations, are appalled at this development which only confirms the previous arguments presented by the union, residents , carers, families and service users that the true strategic direction of Transforming Your Care is principally about cost-cutting, closing facilities and reducing the standard and choice of facilities that older people are entitled to in their later years.

“Previous commitments given by the Department of Health and officials ring somewhat hollow now in light of this announcement and it will be interesting to see if MLAs and Mr Poots, who openly campaigned and protested to keep Skeagh House open in his own constituency, will remain silent now or will actively join others in the campaign to protect the NHS and the retention of services and residential homes locally in their areas.”

HSCB officials have said current residents will not be affected.

However, Mr McCabe said some residents may feel under pressure to move if only a small number remain in a facility.